Access from the land to the dock at which the vessel was moored was limited because the dock was not being used for commercial operations and the access gates were padlocked. The insulation of the electrical cable supplying power to the wheel-house dc rectifier was abraded where it passed through a thin vertical panel at the top of the locker in which the hot water heater was located. The panel had been drilled and the wire fed through without any support, or any securing which would have prevented the cable from chafing with the vessel's movement and vibration. When the insulation chafed through, the two-core cable shorted out and the copper wire burned, setting fire to the wood beams inside the false deckhead panelling. The chafing occurred in a location in which it would not be immediately obvious to personnel on board the vessel. Further, a properly rated circuit breaker installed in a suitably installed electrical distribution system would have sensed the over-current created by the short circuit, thereby activating the circuit breaker's trip mechanism and disconnecting the damaged cable from the electrical supply. Due to the extensive fire damage, it could not be ascertained why the circuit breaker in the engine-room, as found, was in the on position. The skipper and deck-hand had been working extensive hours at sea fishing with only 7partial days off during the previous 75days. The demands of fishing and navigating the vessel with only two people on board would have resulted in the disruption of the normal circadian rhythms of both persons. The long periods worked each day, over the previous 17days at sea, would have left both persons with a heavy sleepdebt, and the noise and movement of the small fishing vessel at sea would not have provided a soporificenvironment. It is likely the quality of sleep obtained was poor and non-restorative. This would suggest that both the skipper and the deck-hand were suffering from fatigue as a result of inadequate sleep and circadian disruption. The skipper's blood ethyl alcohol level of 52mmol/L (0.24%), found during the autopsy, combined with fatigue would have contributed to slowing his response to the stimuli of smoke, heat, and noise from the fire. The firefighting efforts first involved the application of a ClassA foam, and then followed up with three water hoses negating the effect of the foam. The bubble-cup nozzle used by the firefighters produced a low-expansion foam suitable for a liquid or forest fire. Available on the truck was a medium expansion nozzle that had the potential to fill the spaces on board to better effect, but the fire chief decided that water hoses were needed to gain control of the fire. The training taken by volunteer fire departments in British Columbia does not normally include fighting shipboard fires, and the Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Department had not received such training.Analysis Access from the land to the dock at which the vessel was moored was limited because the dock was not being used for commercial operations and the access gates were padlocked. The insulation of the electrical cable supplying power to the wheel-house dc rectifier was abraded where it passed through a thin vertical panel at the top of the locker in which the hot water heater was located. The panel had been drilled and the wire fed through without any support, or any securing which would have prevented the cable from chafing with the vessel's movement and vibration. When the insulation chafed through, the two-core cable shorted out and the copper wire burned, setting fire to the wood beams inside the false deckhead panelling. The chafing occurred in a location in which it would not be immediately obvious to personnel on board the vessel. Further, a properly rated circuit breaker installed in a suitably installed electrical distribution system would have sensed the over-current created by the short circuit, thereby activating the circuit breaker's trip mechanism and disconnecting the damaged cable from the electrical supply. Due to the extensive fire damage, it could not be ascertained why the circuit breaker in the engine-room, as found, was in the on position. The skipper and deck-hand had been working extensive hours at sea fishing with only 7partial days off during the previous 75days. The demands of fishing and navigating the vessel with only two people on board would have resulted in the disruption of the normal circadian rhythms of both persons. The long periods worked each day, over the previous 17days at sea, would have left both persons with a heavy sleepdebt, and the noise and movement of the small fishing vessel at sea would not have provided a soporificenvironment. It is likely the quality of sleep obtained was poor and non-restorative. This would suggest that both the skipper and the deck-hand were suffering from fatigue as a result of inadequate sleep and circadian disruption. The skipper's blood ethyl alcohol level of 52mmol/L (0.24%), found during the autopsy, combined with fatigue would have contributed to slowing his response to the stimuli of smoke, heat, and noise from the fire. The firefighting efforts first involved the application of a ClassA foam, and then followed up with three water hoses negating the effect of the foam. The bubble-cup nozzle used by the firefighters produced a low-expansion foam suitable for a liquid or forest fire. Available on the truck was a medium expansion nozzle that had the potential to fill the spaces on board to better effect, but the fire chief decided that water hoses were needed to gain control of the fire. The training taken by volunteer fire departments in British Columbia does not normally include fighting shipboard fires, and the Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Department had not received such training. Electrical wiring was led through holes drilled in deck beams and plywood panels without being effectively supported and secured to prevent abrasion. The rectifier supply wiring chafed at the point where the cable went through a vertical fixed plywood panel and the loss of insulation allowed the two wire cores of the cable to short out and start a fire. The cable that shorted was concealed in the false deckhead in the lower cabin and this prevented the chafing of the cable from being noticed by those on the vessel and likely contributed to the fire being established before the skipper was alerted. The side gate to the dock, the closest access for the fire department, was locked and caused a delay in getting more than one hose deployed to fight the fire. The initial use of foam on the fire was neutralised when the second and third hose teams used ordinary water hoses and this was further exacerbated by the Coast Guard Auxiliary using a salt water hose from the outboard side of the vessel. Volunteer fire departments in British Columbia do not normally receive training in fighting shipboard fires. The skipper and deck-hand were suffering from fatigue as a result of inadequate sleep and circadian disruption during their heavy work schedule over the previous 75-day period. The skipper's high blood ethyl alcohol level and fatigue likely contributed to his not detecting the warning signs of the fire in time to escape the conflagration.Findings Electrical wiring was led through holes drilled in deck beams and plywood panels without being effectively supported and secured to prevent abrasion. The rectifier supply wiring chafed at the point where the cable went through a vertical fixed plywood panel and the loss of insulation allowed the two wire cores of the cable to short out and start a fire. The cable that shorted was concealed in the false deckhead in the lower cabin and this prevented the chafing of the cable from being noticed by those on the vessel and likely contributed to the fire being established before the skipper was alerted. The side gate to the dock, the closest access for the fire department, was locked and caused a delay in getting more than one hose deployed to fight the fire. The initial use of foam on the fire was neutralised when the second and third hose teams used ordinary water hoses and this was further exacerbated by the Coast Guard Auxiliary using a salt water hose from the outboard side of the vessel. Volunteer fire departments in British Columbia do not normally receive training in fighting shipboard fires. The skipper and deck-hand were suffering from fatigue as a result of inadequate sleep and circadian disruption during their heavy work schedule over the previous 75-day period. The skipper's high blood ethyl alcohol level and fatigue likely contributed to his not detecting the warning signs of the fire in time to escape the conflagration. The fire was caused by a short in electrical wiring supplying power to the wheel-house. The cable was not properly supported and the insulation had chafed where the cable passed through a plywood panel. The cable run was inside a false deckhead and the chafing could not readily be detected by those on board. The skipper's high blood ethyl alcohol level and fatigue from his recent heavy work schedule likely contributed to his not detecting the fire and being overcome by smoke before he could escape. Initial deployment of firefighting equipment was delayed because the vessel was berthed at a dock that was not in commercial use and where the access gates were locked.Causes and Contributing Factors The fire was caused by a short in electrical wiring supplying power to the wheel-house. The cable was not properly supported and the insulation had chafed where the cable passed through a plywood panel. The cable run was inside a false deckhead and the chafing could not readily be detected by those on board. The skipper's high blood ethyl alcohol level and fatigue from his recent heavy work schedule likely contributed to his not detecting the fire and being overcome by smoke before he could escape. Initial deployment of firefighting equipment was delayed because the vessel was berthed at a dock that was not in commercial use and where the access gates were locked.